Loose-leaf binder



June 15 1926.

J. C. DAWSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed July 9, 1925 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED sra JAMES C. DAWSON, OF WEBSTER GEEK ES,

TES

IVIIFJSQURI, ASSIGNOB T ELMA N. DAWSON,

OF \VEBSTER GROVES, IMISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed July 9, 1925.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and has, forits principal object to reduce the quantity of metal required for resilient hacking plates and to make the assembly of the toggle and backing plates easier and cheaper.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as, the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a loose leaf metal secured to a fragment of a book back; 7

Figs. 2 and 3 are, transverse sectional views showing the positions of the parts when the metal is closed and when it is open, respectively;

Fig. tis a fragmentary plan view showing how the cover plate conceals the mechanism and gives the metal parts a finished appearance; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one step in the process of assembling metals embodying the present invention.

In the drawings indicates a pair of toggle plates articulated at their adjacent edges by double headed keys 11, which are received in mating semi-circular openings in the adjacent edges of the toggle plates. Mating pairs of paper holding prongs 12 and 13 are secured to the toggle plates and assume the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as the toggles are bowed downwardly and upwardly, respectively.

The prongs are urged toward open or closed position by resilient backing plates 14, one of which clamps the remote edges of the toggle plates adjacent to each end of the metal. These plates include a flat intermediate portion 15 (Figs. 2 and 3), on each side of which are sloping side portions 16, which terminate in short bent flanges 17 that receive and form bearings for the re mote edges of the toggle plates. The end wise inward movement of the resilient backing plates is limited by steps 18, here formed by indenting one of the flanges 17 which then engagesthe end of the corresponding backing plate.

The backing plates project beyond the ends of the toggle plates, and the flat inter mediate portions 15 are perforated to re eel-ire rivets 19 by which the metal parts are matured to the book hack 230:

Serial No. 42,442.

In order to cover a mechanism and give thebook a neat finished appearance, a cover plate 21 is provided which has curved marginal flanges 22 which clasp about the flanges 17 and secure a cover to the backing plates. The end portions of thecover are closed by down-turned flanges 23. The prongs 12 and 13 swing through apertures 24 and 25 in the cover plate.

In order to facilitate the assembly and also give the cover strength the apertures 24- are in the form of notches through the corresponding flange 22, while the aper+ tures 25 are mere perforations through the cover inwardly from the corresponding flange 22. This provides a tie 26 in a position to strongly reinforce the cover at'the point where it has been weakened by the notches and perforations. The cover extends not only over the toggle plates but beyond the projecting ends of the backing plates, and entirely incloses and finishes off the mechanism of the metal parts of the book.

The use of short backing plates instead of a single continuous backing plate results in two very decided economies in production, viz:it saves metal that would otherwise extend along the intermediate portions of the toggle plates, and it saves enormously in the labor and machine work of producing the backing plates. Note book metals of this class are ordinarily marketed in fortyeight different lengths. According to this invention the same backing plates can be used for all those sizes, and hence the quantities justify the installation of automatic machines which make them at extremely low cost.

There is a further large saving in assembling' the parts of the note book metal. When a single continuous backing plate is used, one man assembles the two toggle plates and the interlocking keys and passes them to another man, who inserts the ends of the toggle plates in one end of the back ing plate, then lays the parts in a slow motion press of some kind and forces them together. A slight misalinement or slight defeet will cause buckling and a loss of the two toggle plates and the backing plate. By assembling the two backing plates the ends of the toggle plates are inserted be-* fore, but hecanse of the short engagement,

and therefore the low friction, the operator can simply press the end of the backing plate against a block or the like and cause the necessary sliding movement. This difference in assembly operation permits one man to assemble backing plates for two men assembling toggle plates with interlocking keys. 1

I claim as my invention- 1. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of toggle plates, articulated at their adjacent edges, pairs of mating prongs carried by said plates, a short resilient backing plate at each end of the toggle plates,

each backing plate having inturned flanges receiving the remote edges of the toggle plates and a. perforated intermediate portion between said flanges, a book back, and means securing the perforated intermediate 1 portions to the book back.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of toggle plates articulated at their adjacent edges, two pairs of mating prongs carried by the plates, a short resilient backing plate at each end of the toggle plates, each backing plate having flanges slidably engaging the remote edges of the toggle plates, and means to limit the inward endwise movement of said backing plates.

8. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of toggle plates articulated at their adjacent edges, pairs of mating prongs carried by said plates, a pair of resilient backing plates gripping the remote edges of the toggle plates adjacent to their ends and projecting beyond said ends, a book back and means securing the projecting portions of the backing plates to the book back.

4. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a pair of toggle plates articulated at their adjacent edges, pairs of mating prongs carried by said plates, a short resilient backing plate gripping the end portions of the toggle plates at their remote edges and projecting endwise beyond the toggle plates, a book back, means for securing the projecting portions of the backing plates to the book back, and a cover plate clasping the edges of the backing plates and extending over the toggle plates and the remote edges of the backing plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES C. DAWSON. 

